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ResetI was staying at Lashia’s house for the night and had just tried to leave when I was invited to join them for breakfast.
Sanzo had thrown a celebration... but things didn’t go as planned.
"You, Sanzo! What kind of awful thing have you done to your sister?"
"Hiiiieee! I'm sorry, please stop, oh no, oh no, oh no!"
Ichika had Sanzo in a joint lock.
Apparently, she had just finished helping out at another house (the Aruma family).
When she got back and found her sister crying, she asked what happened and is currently carrying out an execution.
"You really don't know how to read the room!"
"This is bad! My arm's gonna snap! Like a LEGO block!"
"Since you have two arms, it shouldn't be a problem if just one breaks, right?! Oh no, oh no, oh no!"
"Nooo!!! Ah..." Crack!
"It broke, it's broken, it's broken, it's broken!"
"I just popped his dislocated joint back into place. No need to make such a scene about it."
Ichika kicked Sanro, who was writhing on the ground.
Crack! With that sound, everything was right as rain again.
"Ahh, I can move it now. Just as expected from my big sis! You really do know your stuff with judo!" "Are you even apologizing to her?" "A-ah, yes, I am..."
Sanro shrunk his shoulders down in a dejected squeak.
To Rushia, who had watched the whole thing unfold, Ichika gave a little bow.
"I'll give my idiot brother a good talking-to later as well, so please forgive him."
"Uuu~... Missy~... I'm sorry~..."
Rushia has her face resting on my knee.
I stroke her smooth, white hair.
"Come now, Rushia. Please forgive him." "But..."
To Rushia, who voiced her dissatisfaction, I said:
「Just because he has no ill intent doesn't mean anything goes, but at least he opened the gift because something good happened to you and he wanted to celebrate it. Show some grace and forgive him」
"………If that's what Grandfather says..."
Lushia jerked her head up abruptly.
Ichika and Saburo bowed deeply in unison.
"Miss, I am truly sorry" "I'm so sorry, Miss" Lushia let out a deep sigh.
"I was immature as well. I apologize for ruining the celebration" Lushia offered a small smile. "Thank you, Saburo"
"Nah, nah! Alright then! It's a celebration! A celebration feast, yeah!"
As Saburo said it, the men in black suits began to applaud.
Lushia blushed with shame once again. ★
After the dinner ended, they decided to head home.
At that point, I was called over by Lushia's grandfather, Mr. Hirao Kaeda.
Mr. Hirao sat at the far end of the incredibly spacious Japanese-style room.
"Well done, Okaya. Well, take a seat."
"Forgive me."
It was nine times out of ten that this summons had something to do with Ruisia.
Apparently, the fact that Ruisia and I were involved in a relationship had reached the ears of Kousaka-san, her guardian.
Should I be the one to properly explain my side of things to him directly?
"There is no need to dwell on so many thoughts. I am here simply to express my gratitude to you."
"Gratitude?"
Had I done anything worthy of thanks?
Kousaka-san adjusted his posture and bowed deeply.
"I am truly grateful that you have brought happiness to my grandchild."
Kousaka-san, the leader of the Hiraide Group, bowing down created a bizarre situation, leaving me completely bewildered.
Happiness? Had I actually given him any?
"I see, do you not realize it yourself? Very well... Okaya. You are aware of my grandson's circumstances, correct?"
"Yes, that he lost both parents at a young age."
"Indeed. He is a strong-willed boy. He did not shed a tear in public even on the day his parents died. From that day forward, my grandson made up his mind to live as a woman of the Hiraide clan. I was the one who sealed his future."
To have the future plucked away is, essentially, to have one's way of living forced upon them.
"I gave her plenty of things so she wouldn't suffer any disadvantages. But I could never arrange for her happiness as a woman. It was during such a time that you came along. That child... has become invigorated beyond recognition compared to before."
Indeed, she cried and laughed freely today, displaying an abundance of emotion.
When I first met her at the publishing house, there was a certain samurai-like rigidity and sharpness to her.
But now, it feels as though she is laughing just like an ordinary girl.
"For giving that child a normal happiness, truly... thank you from the bottom of my heart."
She bows so deeply that I think her forehead might hit the ground.
I genuinely don't think I've done anything worth mentioning.
"I haven't done anything to warrant such gratitude. I simply... care for that child, so I stay by her side."
Her earnestness in every moment is what draws me to her.
"I want to stay by her side from now on, forever."
Even if our current provisional relationship were to end, I would still want to be by her side—as an editor, as a private individual... I want to stay with her.
Hearing that, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. "Okay, thank you. Oka, take care of our grandson for years to come."
He truly holds his grandson's well-being close to his heart.
To bow his head to an upstart like me just to ask this... "Of course."
"Good, that puts my mind at ease. You are indeed impressive, Oka. The fact that our grandson took a liking to you says it all." Kōzaka-san nodded in agreement. "By the way, Oka..." "Yes?" "Are you not interested in the position of next supreme leader?"
"Does that mean leading the entire Group?"
"Mm. If you take the helm above me, I can rest easy and step down. I know for a fact that you are a capable man who gets his work done. On top of that, allow me to ask you this."
...What? Is some lowly editor supposed to become the head of one of Japan's central enterprises? No, that's just absurd.
"With all due respect, I must decline. I'm not cut out for it."
"Fufu... What a humble man you are. Your refusal to answer lightly is truly commendable." Kōzaka-san grinned.
"I want you more and more now. I simply must recommend you as my successor."
"No, please. It's beyond me."
"You'll have excellent subordinates under your command. We'll assign Ikkaha as your aide. Jirota is a hard worker too. Don't worry, I'll drill all the know-how into you. Quit the publishing house immediately and become my adoptive son..." "Grandfather!"
Swish! The sliding door slides open and Lysia barges in. "What's up, Nagisa?"
"Ogaya has duties to fulfill as an editor. Besides, I have promised him that, as a novelist, we will create a truly amazing work together!" Lysia declares, puffing out her chest with pride.
"Don't get in the way of our dreams!" The dream that Lysia had set for herself.
It was to create a masterpiece that could rival Kamimatsu-sensei, the industry's top light novel author, known as "The God Writer." Right now, they were still far from reaching that level.
However, the new work she created with Daryl, Kimi-tabi, would surely reach great heights.
This is merely speculation, but I have a feeling anime adaptation will be a sure thing.
"Whatever. The Commander's issue doesn't need to be addressed immediately. How about starting with the marriage between Nagisa and Ogaya first? Hm?"
"H-hey! That's... too soon!"
Highland-san smiles at the blushing Lysia.
"I understand your situation. So, I guess I'll start making some moves myself."
"...You won't do anything unnecessary, right?" "Let's see how things go, shall we?"
Laughing with the cunning expression of a fox, Highland-san makes Lysia let out a deep, exasperated sigh. These two sure get along well.
[★Important Announcement]
On a different site, I've started a new light novel romance comedy!
I've put the link below the ad↓. Just click on the title to jump over there, so please check it out! [Title]
My Yandere Stepsister Who Clings to Me Is Actually My Ex-Girlfriend's Little Sister ~The Day My OCD Boyfriend Dumped Me, The Identical Twin of a Gal Girl Became My Stepsister. I Can't Go Back Now, But This Lillith Devil Who Grants Every Wish the Boyfriend Never Fulfilled Has Captured Both My Body and Soul [URL]